Surface cultivator and weed-cutter.



No. 797,877. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

H. A, VAIL.

SURFACE GULTIVATOR AND WEED CUTTER.

APPLICATION nun JAN. 9. 1905.

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SUFiFACE CULTIVATOR AND WEED-CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed January 9, 1905. erial No. 240,220.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HARVEY A. VAIL, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing in the county of Lyon and State of Kansas, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Surface Cultivators andWeed-Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to implements of' the nature stated adapted for thecare of all crops planted in rows; and the object is to provide such animplement which may be adjusted so as to be adapted to varying widthsbetween the rows, to eliminate cumbersome and unnecessary'parts fromsuch a device, and withal to provide such an implement which is simple,strong, durable, and eflicient.

The invention consists of the novel combination, arrangement, anddisposition of the parts, the preferred form of the embodiment whereofis herein shown and described and is also shown in the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is aside elevation of the implement, and Fig. 2 is a top View thereof. Fig.3 is a sectional view of the main coupling through the line 3 3', Fig.2. Fig. 4 is a sec tional view of the brace coupling-pin. Fig. 5 is arear elevation view of the smaller culti: vator-blades with their shanksand beams, the coupling, and the short slotted bars. Fig.6 is a rearview of the long slotted bar with the rods by which it is secured to thehandlebraces. Figs. 7 and 8 show the implement with the smaller bladesremoved and the smallest blade substituted therefor in order tocultivate along a narrow row, Fig. 7 being a side view and Fig. 8 beinga top view.

Like reference-numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

To the main beam 1 is secured the large forward cultivator-blade 2. Thewheel 3 is secured in a suitable frame 4, to which may be welded thethreaded rods or bolts 5 5, extending through the main beamandadjustably secured thereto by means of the taps 6 6 below and 7 7 above.The coupling box or socket 8 is secured to the main beam by means of thestirrup 9 and the taps or nuts 10 10. The rear and smallercultivator-blades 11 11 are secured to the shanks of the beams 12 12,respectively, which beams have each an inwardly-extending arm adapted tobe adjustably held in the opposite openings 8 of the coupling-box by theset-screws 13 13. A main brace*14 connects each brace '12 with thecoupling-pin 15, which consists of two parts 15 and 15, which areadapted to be screwed together, as shown in Fig. 4. Each brace isprovided with a turnbuckle and is connected with the ring or lug 16 ofthe beam 12. Also secured to each beam 12 by the bolt 18 is the shortslotted bar 17. The handle-braces 19 are secured to the main beam by thebolt 20 and extend diverging rearwardly therefrom, a separator orstay-rod serving to keep them properly spaced, as at 21. Secured to eachhandle-brace is a depending rod 22, and to these rods is fastened thelong, slotted bar 23. The long and short slotted bars, their slots beingin register, may be securely bolted together by the bolts 24 24.

If it is desired to cultivate a wider row than is adapted forcultivation by the implement when adjusted in the manner shown in thedrawings, then by unscrewing the set-screws 13 13 and the bolts 24 24and loosening the turnbuckles 14' 14 the beams 12 12, and with them thesmaller blades 11 11, may be spread farther apart, so as to cover awider path, when the set-screws and bolts may be again tightened. Toadjust the implement to cultivate at varying depths, resort will be hadto the taps 5 5 and 6 6 for adjusting the wheel 3 for the larger bladeand to the stirrup 9, which may be adjusted vertically on the shank ofthe main beam, and to the rods 22 22, which may be adjusted verticallyby means of several bolt-holes where it is attached to thehandle-braces, for the smaller blades. The blades themselves are ofpeculiar shape and form in that they are of triangular shape, the twolegs of the triangle being the cutting edges and their surfaces beingconvex instead of concave in the usual manner. 1

In case it is desired to cultivate between rows not wide enough to takein the implement, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, thenthe smaller blades, with their beams and short slotted bars and mainbraces, may be removed, and in such case in order to have a suitablebalancing device at the rear I provide a still smaller blade 11, whoseshank 12 may be secured to the long slotted bar 23 by means of thestirrup 25 and nuts 26 26, which stirrup permits the vertical adjustmentof the blade. A brace-rod 27, having a turnbuckle 28, connects the shank12, through book 29, with the main beam or main couplingbox through book30.

From the foregoing it will be readily understood that the cultivator maybe readily adjusted to any width of row and to any depth of cultivation.

What I claim is 1. In a surface cultivator and weed-cutter, thecombination of the main beam and the cultivator-blade secured thereto;the wheel 3 adjustably secured to the beam; the coupling box or socketadjustably secured to the main beam; the rear laterally-disposed blades11, 11, and the shanks and beams 12, 12 therefor, ad justably andremovably secured to the coupling-box; the handles and handle-braces;and the slotted bars secured respectively to the beams 12, 12 and to thehandle-braces; whereby the said blades 11, 11 may be adjusted andremoved, as set forth.

2. In a surface cultivator and weed-cutter, the combination of the mainbeam and the cultivator-blade secured thereto; the wheel 3 adjustablysecured to said beam; the coupling box or socket, and the stirrup foradjustably attaching said box to said beam; the rear laterally-disposedcultivator-blades 11, 11, and the shanks and beams thereforrespectively,

adjustably and removably secured to the coupling-box; the handles andbraces; and the slotted bars secured respectively to the beams 12, 12and to the handle-braces; whereby said to said beam; the rearlaterally-disposed blades 11, 11, and the shanks and beams 12, 12therefor, respectively, said beams having their for- .ward ends turnedinwardly to engage the sockets of said coupling-box, and the setscrewsfor secur ng said ends therein; the

short slotted bars secured to said beams 12,

12, respectively, and extending inwardly therefrom; the rods 22, 22depending from' the handle-braces, and the long slotted bar secured tosaid rods 22, 22; the bolts for securing the slotted bars together; andthe handles and handle braces; all substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence ofwitnesses.

HARVEY A. VAIL.

Witnesses:

J. H. BURKE, BENJ. DULLON.

